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Show ©HilltopTimes October 28, 2004 Commentary Impartial workplace essential president and the candidate, and at times they are so good I've been tempted to forward on the political satire to the entire base. Each time I turn on the office television I see more inforPATRICK AFB.Fla. (AFPN) - As a public affairs officer for themation about the upcoming election, and my blood goes from resting temperature to yelling-at-the-TV temperature in about 2.4 United States Air Force, I'm paid to talk. I'm paid to communicate ideas and transfer information to thou-seconds. In fact, I should write a thank-you note to the major news sands of people about issues that are going to affect their families,networks for giving my heart a natural workout over the last few their everyday lives and their long-term careers. And yet during months. The heart of the matter: I find myself craving to lead political the next few weeks, one of the most important responsibilities that I'll share with my fellow military members will be to keep mycampaigns at work. mouth shut. I see and hear things I strongly disagree or concur with, and As tension between opposing political parties grows to a remark-every fiber of my being tells me to chime in and comment on what I believe. And yet I have to hold able force, the desire to express back. This isn't the place for voica negative view toward elected ing personal views on elected officials develops with it. But officials. Healthy discussion is the venue for voicing opinions always encouraged, because we on the matter is quite small for know that engaging conversamilitary members, and in the tions increase knowledge and waning days before a critical social tolerance. But using presidential election, even the federal time, money, assets or blandest of comments or actions tools to voice political views is can draw negative attention to categorically wrong. an individual or office with the best of intentions. The fact is, we cannot allow our personal opinions to interGovernment employees must fere with our duty to remain politrecognize that they are expected ically unbiased in relation to our to conduct themselves in a manfederal positions. Military, DOD ner that allows for a completely civilians and any federal employee's impartial atmosphere at work. primary responsibility is to serve We know during any season, in a wholly impartial manner. election or not, military memAnd though it might require a bers are subject to scrutiny and bit of tongue biting or creative possible reprimand for inaparticulation, this reservation is propriate comments about their needed in order to maintain a chain of command or about healthy and professional workelected officials. But during a ing atmosphere. heated political time such as this, sensitivities to partisan So, over the next few days commentary are at an all-time as you anxiously count down high. the hours until the time arrives to make your mark on the Just one snide remark, one nation's future (I know I can't prejudiced e-mail or one biased be the only one this excited), flyer can be the downfall of a remember that government healthy federal or military career. time and resources have to Even though you might just be kept separate from our be attempting to encourage fellow co-workers to engage in a political discussion, we each must personal political agendas. remember there is a proper time and place for such dialogue. In the end, whoever wins, the victory will be that much I'm speaking from personal experience. I'll admit that I haven't sweeter if it is a success brought about by completely legal and been reprimanded for being too zealous about one side or another,honest means, and each of us can do our part to keep partisan pol-. but I feel the itch. I have received entertaining e-mails about the itics out the military setting. by 1st. Lt. Elizabeth Kreft 45th Space Wing Public Affairs Hill Street Views 'What are your Halloween plans?' Airman 1st Class Omer Sanabria Dental Assistant 75th Dental Squadron Vote "I'm going trick or treating with my little boy." Billy Owens Receptionist 75th Dental Squadron "I'm going to the fall festival at my church, because we don't like picking up candy from strangers on the street" DUTY BEFORE OPINION Senior Airman Misty Henseleit Dental Assistant 75th Dental Squadron "We're going to stay at home and pass out candy to all the trick or treaters." Action Line Power • Vii it , V) •;» I'm complaining about a recent unannounced power outage in the housing area. I have two babies on oxyQ gen ard If I had been notified, I would have made other arrangements for them. After looking into your situation, we found there was A a scheduled power outage for buildings 870, 860, 859 and 858. This outage, however, wasn't to affect the hous- ing area. One of our subsystems failed as our civil engineers were trying to back-feed power to the housing area. This failure caused the power interruption you experienced. By the time the electricians realized that housing was off line, they were too far into the outage to stop the procedure. Our power distribution system is old and can fail at inopportune times, which is why we're seeking funds from Air Force Materiel Command to replace aging infrastructure systems base-wide. Please accept my apologies for your situation, as well as my reassurance that we would have notified you if we,thought the planned outage would affect any of our housing residents. Should you have additional questions with respect to the power distribution system for your area, call the 75th CES Customer Service at Ext. 7-1856, .-•.,... w: ACTION LINE is youropportunity to make HiJ.1 AFB a better place to live, work and play. When you call Ext. 7-7000 or send e-mail on Outlook to "HILL ACTION LINE," your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command (he opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling ACTION LINE. Col: Sharon Dunbar This will help me better serve 75th ABW Commander your interests. Items of basewide interest to the Hill workforce will be published in the Hilltop Times. 1 Master Sgt. Esther Lewis First Sergeant 75th Medical Group "I don't know. I'm probably going to feed candy to the trick or treaters." books, magazines, newspaper, envelopes, books, packaging, wrapping paper, etc) can be placed in those bins. Both types of cardboard (corrugated and paperboard) are acceptable. The contents of the bins are collected and taken to a Municipal Recycling Facility in Ogden where they are manually sorted and cleaned. There is only one special requirement- shredded paper should be put in a closed bag so it doesn't make a mess. Other than that, just save it and put it in a beige bin. Inorganic recyclable materials are collected in a 40 cubic Recycling rules ? ' ; ; yard roll-off container located at the Base Drop Off Recycling Center. It's painted beige and also labeled. We accept lVe seen a few things In the recycle center containers steel food cans, aluminum beverage cans, and plastics No. 1 that are contrary to what I thought are acceptable. In the past only clear glass was accepted but I have been see- (water and soda bottles for example) andNo.2 (milk jugs for example). The numbers are written on the plastic containIng green and brown glass In the containers. Is this OK ers. Recyclers don't have to worry about washing the connow? Do the cellophane windows need to be removed tainers or removing labels or lids. Like the cardboard and from envelopes? Do labels heed to be removed from steel paper, the "inorganics" are taken to a facility in Ogden for cans, plastic and glass jars? Do the rings on the top of processing. Just save it and drop it off. plastic and glass bottles need to be removed? if there are any other specific guidelines I would appreciate knowing Glass is collected separately because it's breakable and is about them so that contaminants are not Included In my taken to a specialty glass recycler in Salt Lake City. Two bins recycling. are located at the Base Drop Off Recycling Center. The recycler in Salt Lake only wants clear glass. Colored glass and spent fluorescent tubes shouldn't be placed in the bins. Hill AFB collects three types of recyclable materials: paper i More information is available in the Environmental Manid cardboard, inorganic recyclable materials, and clear agement Directorate's newsletter "Talkin' Trash." The glass. The paper and cardboard bins (about 160 of them) are placed newsletter is on Hillnet and the EM homepage or at https://hifaround the base! They are painted beige and labeled for recy- semintra.hill.af.mil/prevention/talkintrash/index.html. For clable material. About 10 of them are placed at the Base Drop more details, call the CE program manager, Blair Armstrong, Off Recycling Center located next to the northwest corner of at Ext. 7-1897, or the CE refuse and recycling contract manager, Staff Sgt. Heather Prater, at Ext. 5-6779. Bldg.800. Any paper (white bond, colored bond, phone Col. Dan Gail Deputy commander 75th Dental Squadron "I'll be passing out toothbrushes and dental floss, along with candy." Q Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Black Perlodontal therapist 75th Dental Squadron "I'm getting dressed up and going to party." "The U.S. Air Force — meeting the challenge through Global Vigilance, Reach and Power." Quality Systems for Americas Air Force Hilltop Times Published by Ogden Publishing Corp., a private firm in no way connected wilh the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, including inserts or supplements, docs not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Corp., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmeril factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the 75th Air base Wing Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 150. Call Ext. 7-4598 with story ideas or comments, or send E-mail to "hilltop.pa@hill.af.mil". Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Col. Sharon Dunbar 75th ABWcommander Charles Freeman Chief, Public Affairs Bill Orndorff Editor Beth Young, Shad West, Airman Jenny Chong Airman 1st Class Mlcah Garbarlno Staff Writers Sablna Golder , Page Designer Deadlines: Editorial and "Around the Hill" items, 3 p.m. Friday; sports articles, 9 a.m Monday; classified ads, 5 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. 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